Valves

ABSTRACT

Valves of the sliding gate and rotary plug types having a body with inlet and outlet ports, an apertured closure assembly controlling flow therethrough including a primary closure member and a secondary closure member, and a soft seal means surrounding at least one of said ports and sealing between the body and the closure assembly, said secondary closure member co-acting with said primary closure to close said aperture means of said closure assembly prior to movement of said aperture means past said seal means to maintain effectiveness of said seal means between the body and closure assembly. Single and multiple port sliding gate valves and cylindrical, tapered, and ball type plug valves provided with such closure assemblies are disclosed.

United States Patent 1 Fredd et al. [451 Sept. 4, 1973 VALVES Primary Examiner-Amold Rosenthal [76] Inventors: John v. Fredd, 9910 Harwich, "asmgs Dallas; Jack. W. Tamplen, Rt. 2, Celina, both of Tex.

Filed: Feb. 3, 1971 Appl. No.: 113,652

[52] U.S. Cl. 137/1, 251/212 [51] Int. Cl. F16k 25/00 [581] Field of Search 251/212, 210, 327, 251/328, DIG. l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,426,795 2/1969 Muller 251/310 X 2,719,023 9/1955 Clade 251/212 2,926,884 3/1960 Clinkenbeard... 251/210 2,341,411 2/1944 Ojalvo... 137/6l4.l7

[5 7 1 ABSTRACT Valves of the sliding gate and rotary plug types having a body with inlet and outlet ports, an apertured closure assembly controlling flow therethrough including a primary closure member and a secondary closure member, and a soft seal means surrounding at least one of said ports and sealing between the body and the closure assembly, said secondary closure: member co-acting with said primary closure to close said aperture means of said closure assembly prior to movement of said ap erture means past said seal means to maintain effectiveness of said seal means between the body and closure assembly. Single and multiple port sliding gate valves and cylindrical, tapered, and ball type plug valves provided with such closure assemblies are disclosed.

4 Claims, 31 Drawing Figures INVENTORS' JOHN V. FREDD JACK W. TAMPLEN FIG.-9

ATTORNEY PAIENIEnm 4 ms SHEH'HIFQ INVENTORS JOHN V. FREDD JACK w. TAMPLEN ATTORNEY ,m jFez PATENTEDSEP 4m: 3.756.260 SHEEI 5 0F 9 JOHN V. FREDD JACK W. TAMPLEN BY WQM ATTORNEY FIG-I3 PAIENTEDSEP W 3.756.260

saw a or 9 FIG-l7 INVENTORS JOHN v.v FREDD JACK MYTAMPLEN ATTORN E PATENTEDSEP 4m: 3,766,260

sum 9 or 9 65$ mvsmoxs m JOHN v. FRED JACK w. TAMP FlG.-28 BY W M ATTORNEY VALVES One object of the invention is to provide an improved valve and closure assembly.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved valve having a soft seal between the valve body and a closure assembly, wherein said closure as sembly is constructed to be operated between opened and closed positions with minimum damage to the soft seal.

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a valve, means for preventing serious damage to or destruction of a soft seal between the body and closure under high pressure operating conditions when the closure is moved between opened and closed positions.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide soft seal means for sealing between a body and a closure assembly in a valve of the gate or plug type permitting movement of the closure assembly between opened and closed positions under high pressure with minimum damage to the soft seal, and wherein the closure assembly of the valve may be fonned of cylindrical, tapered, or spherical plugs, and may be provided with seals on opposite ends of the flow passage through the plug.

It is a particularly important object of the invention to provide an improved valve having a body with inlet and outlet ports communicating with each other, a closure assembly movable in said body between open and closed positions to control flow between the inlet and outlet ports of the body, seal means in the body surrounding at least one of the inlet and outlet ports and sealing between the body and the closure assembly, and secondary closure means in said closure assembly coacting with the primary closure member in said assembly to prevent extrusion of the seal means during movement of the closure assembly between open and closed positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a valve having a body with a flow passage therethrough and an apertured closure member coacting with. the flow passage to control flow through the valve, a soft seal between the closure member and the valve body, and means for preventing extrusion of the soft seal when the aperture of the closure member moves past it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described having a plurality of inlet or outlet ports and avalve closure assembly having aperture means therein for controlling flow between said inlet and outlet ports wherein the closure assembly includes means for closing the apertures through the closure assembly prior to movement of said apertures across the seal means between the body and the closure assembly; and, further, to provide such a valve in which the flow between the inlet and outlet ports may be proportioned by adjustment of the position of the closure assembly in the body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character set forth wherein the valve closure assembly is operable by fluid pressure means.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide, in a valve of the character described, means for automatically closing the aperture through the valve closure assembly as the valve closure assembly is moved between open and closed positions in either direction to assure that the aperture is closed before the same is moved across the seal means between the closure assembly and the valve body.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slide valve having at least one inlet or outlet port and at least two outlet or inlet ports, respectively, and the closure assembly for controlling flow through the valve body is provided with means for closing the aperture through said closure assembly prior to movement of the closure assembly between open and closed positions in the body; and, wherein the valve closure assembly may be disposed at intermediate positions to proportion flow of fluids through the body; and, further, wherein said slide valve is provided with means for fluid pressure actuation of the closure of the closure assembly; and, wherein the high pressure fluid may be directed from a single upstream opening to a plurality of outlet openings past the closure assembly, so that the fluid is selectively directed to a plurality of outlets controlled by the closure assembly.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved valve having a body with inlet and outlet ports therein, a primary closure member having a flow passage therethrough and movable in the body to control fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports, seal means in the body surrounding the inlet and outlet ports and sealing between the body and the primary closure member, and secondary closure means coacting with the primary closure member to prevent extrusion of the seal means by fluid pressure during movement of the flow passage of the primary closure member past the seal rneans.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGS. 1 through 5 are fragmentary views showing the structure and operation of a valve and closure means constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG. 1 showing the valve with its closure means in closed position; FIG. 2 showing a cross-section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 showing the valve with its closure means in partly open position; FIG. 4 showing the valve open; and FIG. 5 showing a cross-section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 through 8 are views, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a gate type valve constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG. 6 being a longitudinal sectional view showing the valve open; FIG. 7 being a cross-sectional view taken along line 7'7 of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 being a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view, with some parts in elevation, showing a further embodiment of a gate type valve constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal exploded view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the closure means of the valve of FIG. 9;.

FIGS. 13 through 17 are views showing a slide of the three way type valve constructed in accordance with the invention: FIG. 13 being a longitudinal sectional view showing the valve with its closure means in position closing one outlet and opening the other outlet; FIG. 14 being a cross-sectional view taken along line l414 of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 being a cross-sectional view taken along line 15l5 of FIG. 13; FIG. 16 being a cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 13; and FIG. 17 being an exploded perspective view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the valve closure assembly of the valve of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 18 through 22 are schematic views showing the structure and operation of a valve constructed in accordance with the invention having a spherical plug-type closure member; FIG. 18 being a longitudinal sectional view showing the valve in open position, FIG. 19 being a cross-sectional view taken along line l919 of FIG. 18, FIG. 20 being an exploded perspective view showing the spherical closure assembly of the valve of FIG. 18, FIG. 20A being a side elevational view of the secondary closure member, FIG. 21 being a sectional view, similar to FIG. 18, showing the valve of FIG. 18 in a partly closed position; and FIG. 22 being a sectional view, similar to FIG. 21, showing the valve closed;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a valve closure assembly for a cylindrical plug type valve constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG' 24 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 23, showing a valve closure assembly for a tapered plug type valve constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 25 and 26 are cross-sectional views of a valve having a rotary plug type primary closure member provided with secondary closure members at each end of the flow passage therethrough, FIG. 25 showing the valve open and FIG. 26 showing the valve closed;

FIGS. 27 and 28 are transverse sectional views of a further modified form of plugvalve having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports and showing the plug closure means in positions selectively communicating with the outlet ports;

FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken on line29-29 of FIG. 27; and

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary sectional view through the valve showing the body and operating stem seal arrangement.

In the drawings, FIGS. 1 through illustrate schematically a sliding gate type valve having a primary closure member or gate member 11 slidable in the body 12 across the flow passage 13 therein for opening and closing said flow passage. An O-ring or seal member 14 is disposed in an annular groove on each side of the primary closure member and in engagement with said closure member, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. When the primary closure member 11 is moved between the closed position shown in FIG. 1 and the open position shown in FIG. 4, an elongate longitudinally extending bifurcation or transverse opening 16 provided in said primary closure member or gate member is moved from a position out of flow communication with the flow passage 13 in the body to a position communicating with and opening the flow passage to flow therethrough. During movement of said gate member between open and closed positions, the edges of the opening 16 move across the engaging surfaces of the O-rings or seal members 14. Fluid pressure within the flow passage 13 acting across the seal memberswill tend to displace the O-rings from the grooves 15 in which they are disposed and to extrude such O-rings or seal members into the space between the gate or closure member 11 and the valve body 12, and so to damage or destroy the seal members and thus reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of the seal means. While two O-rings or seal members 14 are shown, it is obvious that a single ring may be used, if desired.

To prevent such extrusion or damage or destruction of the O-rings, with resulting loss of seal effectiveness, a secondary closure member or tongue member 20 is slidably mounted and movable in the elongate opening 16 in the primary closure member or gate 11 to a position wherein the inner end 20a of said tongue or secondary closure member is in abutting engagement with the inner end 16a of said opening in said gate, thus closing the inner portion of said opening before said primary closure or gate member is moved between open and closed positions, so that no displacement of the 0- rings 14 occurs as a result of the differential pressure thereacross during movement of the abutting portions of the tongue 20 and primary closure or gate member past the seal member in either direction, as from the closed position of FIG. 1 to the open position of FIG. 4 and vice versa.

The primary closure member 11 may be moved in the housing 12 in any suitable manner, as by means of a handle (not shown) connected to the end of said primary closure member opposite the end in which the opening 16 is formed. The primary closure member 11 is slidable in a body opening or bore 21 formed in the body 12, and the body is formed with a guide member or portion 22 which slidably engages in the opening 16 in the primary closure member and which has an axial longitudinal guide opening 23 formed therein for receiving the shank or tang portion 24 of the secondary closure member 20. The length of the guide member 21 is such that the primary closure member 11 may move to the completely closed position shown in FIG. 1 with the secondary closure member 20 abutting the inner end 16a of the opening 16. An equalizing port 25 is formed in the body communicating with the bore 21 outwardlyof the primary closure member 11 to assure that the closure member may slide freely in such body opening.

For causing automatic simultaneous movement of the secondary closure member 20 with the primary closure member 11 between the positions shown in FIG. 1 and the positions shown in FIG. 4, a latch pin 30 is disposed in a transverse aperture 31 in the shank or tang of the secondary closure member and is slidable longitudinally of such opening and transversely of the tang of the secondary closure member between the position shown in FIG. 1 and the position shown in FIG. 4. An elongate longitudinal slot 33 is formed in the guide member 22 and the projecting left hand end of the pin 30 is slidable in such longitudinal slot during movement of the primary closure member 11 and the secondary closure member 20. The opposite side of the axial opening in the guide member is imperforate and forms a camming lock or stop surface 35 engageable with the opposite or right hand end of the latch pin for holding the left hand end of the latch pin in the projecting position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the projecting portion of the pin is engaged in a lock recess or notch 37 formed in one leg 16b of the bifurcation of the primary closure member in the longitudinal wall of the bifurcation or opening 16 forming such leg. The notch is provided with a beveled wall 38 at its outer end and a complementary bevel 32 is provided on the projecting end of the pin, and engagement of the beveled end of the pin with the beveled surface in the notch holds the pin against rotation about its longitudinal axis in the opening in the tang of the secondary closure member. As is clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opposite right hand end of the locking pin rides on the camming lock surface 35 of the longitudinal axial guide opening 23 in the guide member 22 and the projecting or left hand end of said pin is held engaged in the notch 37 in the leg 16b of the closure member 11 so that, as the primary closure member 11 is moved by the operating handle (not shown), the engagement of the projecting end of the pin in the notch causes the secondary closure member or tongue to move with the primary closure member with the lower end a of the secondary closure member in engagement with the inner end 16a of the opening in the primary closure member, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the secondary closure member 20 has been moved to the position shown in FIG. 4, the locking pin 30 engages the inner end of the elongate slot 33 in the guide member, and further movement of the tongue or secondary closure member is prevented. The camming action caused by the beveled surface 38 of the notch 37 formed in the leg 16b of the primary closure member cams the locking pin longitudinally out of the notch 37 to move the opposite end of the pin into engagement in looking recess or notch 39 formed in the opposite wall of the opening 23 in the guide member 22. The camming effect of the beveled surface 38 and the bevel 32 on the pin thus moves the pin out of the notch or lock recess 37 and permits the primary closure member 11 to move on to the fully opened position shown in FIG. 4 while the camming stop or look surface on the inner side 16c of the left hand leg 16b of the primary closure member holds the pin with its opposite or right hand end engaged in the notch 39. In this position the valve is open and flow may take place through the flow passage 13 of the body.

When the valve is moved from the open position shown in FIG. 4 toward the closed position shown in FIG. l, the primary closure member 11 is moved outwardly from the position in FIG. 4 until the notch or lock recess 37 is disposed adjacent and in alignment with the left hand or projecting end of the locking pin 30. At this point the inner end 16a ofthe opening in the primary closure member engages the inner end 20a of the tongue or secondary closure member 20 to close the aperture or opening 16 through the primary closure member. Such closing is effected prior to the movement of the abutting surfaces or juncture line of the tongue or secondary closure member and the gate or primary closure member past the engaging surfaces of the O-ring seal members 14. As will be seen in FIG. 3, such closure is effected before any slight gap through the closure assembly at the line of juncture between the primary closure member 11 and the secondary closure member 20 is moved across the engaging surfaces of the seal rings or O-rings 14, so that there can be no extrusion of the seal rings by fluid pressure differential acting across said seal rings.

As the primary closure member then moves further outwardly with the notch or recess 37 disposed in alignment with the left hand or projecting end of the lock pin 30, such further longitudinal movement of the primary closure member causes outward movement of the secondary closure member and the pin 30 in the aperture 31 therein, so that the camming force of the beveled end 34 at the right hand or opposite end of the locking pin with the beveled camming surface 40 of the lock recess 39 cams the locking pin longitudinally out of the lock recess 39 and the left hand projecting end of the pin into engagement in the lock recess 37 in the leg 16b of the bifurcation of the primary closure member. The right hand end of the locking pin will then ride along the camming lock surface 35 of the guide opening 23 in which the tang of the secondary closure mem ber is slidable until the valve closure member assembly or means reaches the fully closed position shown in FIG. 1 and only the imperforate portion of the primary closure member ll is disposed in sealing engagement with the O-rings 14.

The abutting edges 16a of the primary closure member 11 and 20a of the secondary closure member are thus moved past the O rings in either direction from closed to open position and from open to closed position while in such abutting engagement, so that no extrusion of the ()-rings can take place during such movement and damage to or deterioration of the effectiveness of the seal provided by the O-rings is prevented.

It is thus apparent that the O-rings or soft seal members 14 are confined to or retained within the grooves or recesses in which they are mounted by the engagement of the valve closure means with said seal means at all positions of the primary closure member and secondary closure member comprising the valve closure means or assembly between open and closed positions. This arrangement of the valve closure assembly and seal means prevents deterioration or destruction of the effectiveness of the seal means which might otherwise result from extrusion or flow of such seal means out of the recesses or grooves in which they are confined or retained by fluid pressure differentials acting across said seal means. Thus, a valve has been provided in which the seal means will effect and maintain an effective seal between the valve body and the movable closure means or assembly .at low pressure differentials and yet will maintain such effective seal under high pressure differentials, without deterioration or destruction of such seal, even during movements of the valve closure means or assembly between open and closed positions.

Also, it is readily apparent that only a single O-ring or seal ring will effectively seal between the body or housing 12 and the primary closure member 11 when the valve closure means or assembly is in closed position, so that no flow of fluids under pressure can take place through the passage 13 in the housing.

A slightly modified form of gate valve 50 is shown in FIGS. 6 through 8 wherein the primary closure member 51 is slidable inan opening 94 in a body or housing 52 shown as substantially cylindrical in external configuration and having a flow passage 53 extending transversely thereof intermediate its ends. The slidable closure gate member 51 has piston 54 formed integral at one end and an elongate lbngitudinal transverse opening 56 is formed in the closure member extending longitudinally from the end beyond the piston 54 to substantially the mid portion of said member where the inner end 56a of such opening is substantially semicircular. The secondary closure or tongue member 60 is slidable in the longitudinal opening 56 in the closure or gate member 51 in the same manner as that of the form first described, and has a generally semi-circular inner end portion 56a of the opening 56 in the primary closure member. The opposite end of the primary closure member is provided with a projecting shank 55 on which is mounted a piston 62 held in place on the shank by a lock nut 63. An O-ring 64 in a counter-bore of the lock nut seals between the nut and the shank and between the nut and the piston, and an O'ring or seal member 65 on the external cylindrical surface of the piston seals between the piston and the bore wall of a cylinder or pressure chamber 66 formed in the closure cap 67 at such end of the housing 52. The cap is threaded into a cylindrical enlargement 68 in the bore of the housing and an O-ring or other seal member 69 is disposed in an internal annular groove in such enlarged bore for sealing between the cap and the housing or body to prevent fluid leakage therebetween. A lateral opening 70 is provided in the side wall of the cap at its outer end communicating with the cylindrical bore 66 and a flow conduit 71 is threaded thereinto for conducting fluid pressure into the cylinder to act on the piston 62 to move the primary closure member 51 toward closed position. The end of the primary closure member having the integral piston 54 formed thereon is slidable in a cylindrical bore or pressure chamber 75 formed on a, cap 76 threaded into a cylindrical counterbore 77 in that end of the body 52. An O-ring 78 or other suitable seal member is provided in a suitable internal groove in the counterbore for sealing between the cap and the body to prevent fluid leakage therebetween. A fluid port 80 is formed in the side wall at the outer end of the cap 76 and a fluid pressure conduit 79 is threaded into such port to conduct fluid pressure into said cylinder or chamber to move the piston therein and thus move the primary closure member toward open position.

The stem or tang 61 on the secondary closure member 60 is slidable in a cylindrical bore 82 in a cylindrical guide member 83 which is confined between the closed outer end of the cap 76 and an internal outwardly facing shoulder 84 formed in a counterbore in the body surrounding the portion of the primary closure member adjacent the integral piston 54, so that the guide member is held against longitudinal movement in the body between such shoulder and the cap or closure. The inner end portion of the external cylindrical portion of the guide member 83 is slidable in the elongate opening 56 in the primary closure member 51 in the same manner as the guide member 22 of the form first described. A seal ring or O-ring 89 is disposed in a suitable internal annular groove formed in the piston 54 on the primary closure member and seals between the piston and the guide member, whereby fluid pressure entering into the cylinder 75 through the port 80 will act on the piston to move the closure member toward the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The latch pin 91 is slidable in a transverse opening 92 in the stem or tang 61 of the tongue or secondary closure member in the same manner as the pin 30 of the form first described, and the right hand or projecting end of such pin, as seen in FIG. 8, is slidable in the elongate longitudinal slot 93 formed in the guide member. Rotation of the secondary closure member and the primary closure or gate member with respect to each other, cannot take place since these members have flattened portions disposed in the rectangular body opening 94 in the body, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the projecting or right end of the pin 91 is slidable in the longitudinal slot 93 in the wall of the guide member 83 and holds the guide member against rotation. Thus, the pin 91 may engage in the notch or locking recess 95 in the wall of the opening 56 in the primary closure member when the secondary closure member is in the closed position. The opposite or left hand end of the pin 91 is engageable in a locking recess or notch 96 in the bore wall of the guide member corresponding to the notch 39 of the form first described.

The operation of the valve closure means or assembly comprising the primary closure member and secondary closure member, in this form of the valve, is substantially identical to that of the form first described, since the semi-circular inner end 60a of the secondary closure member is moved into abutting engagement with the semi-circular inner end surface 56a of the opening in the primary closure member or gate 51 before movement of such abutting surfaces past the engaging surfaces of the O-rings 99 disposed in suitable grooves in the body surrounding the flow passage 53 on opposite sides of the closure means and sealing between the closure means and the body.

The valve is operated by means of fluid pressure supplied from a source P to a three way valve V connected with the conduits 71 and 79, whereby fluid pressure may be introduced from the pressure Source through the conduit 79 into the cylinder to act on the piston 54 to move the primary closure member toward the open position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, or the fluid pressure may be exhausted from such cylinder 75 through the conduit and the four way valve V to the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe 81, and pressure from the source P supplied through the conduit 71 to the cylinder 66 to act on the piston 62 to move the primary closure member from the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 toward the closed position (not shown), wherein the imperforate portion of the primary closure member is disposed across the flow passage 53 in the body and sealed off by the O-rings 99 in the same manner as in FIG. 1 of the form first described.

In this form, the valve is operated by fluid pressure and has a slightly different shape of the opening in the primary closure member and of the secondary closure member and the guide means is cylindrical, but the functioning of these parts is substantially identical to that of the form of the valve previously described, and all advantages of the first form are present in this modified form.

A modified form of valve 100 having a closure assembly similar to the form of that schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 is shown in FIGS. 9 through 12. The valve of this modified form includes a primary closure member 101 in the form of an elongate gate member slidable in a substantially rectangular opening 114 in a body 112 which is substantially cylindrical in form and has a transverse flow passage 113 formed therein traversing the body opening and having internal threads by means of which flow conduits or pipes 113a and 1 13b may be connected to the body for conducting fluids thereto. The substantially rectangular opening 114 formed in the body receives the substantially rectangular primary closure member or slidable gate 101, as clearly shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The transverse opening is somewhat enlarged in its central portion by virtue of having been formed by turning with a fly cutter or the like to provide the opposed planar surfaces 114a and 114b of the rectangular opening through which the closure member slides. Annular recesses or grooves are formed in these opposed planar surfaces of the body and receive seal members or O-rings 1 16 for sealing between the body and the valve closure assembly or means, comprising the primary closure member 101 and secondary closure member 170, as clearly shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The body 112 is substantially cylindrical in configuration and has flats 117 formed on its exterior surrounding the outer ends of the flow openings 113 formed therein. The opposite ends of the body are reduced in diameter, as shown in FIG. 9, and are counterbored and provided with internal screw threads 118. A closure cap 119 is threaded into one opening of the body and an O-ring 120 is disposed in a counterbore in the threaded opening between the cap and the body to seal therebetween. The cap has a cylindrical closed bore 121 into which the imperforate inner closure portion 102 of the primary closure member 101 is slidable when the closure member is moved to the open position as shown in FIG. 9. An elongate cylindrical bonnet having external screw threads 131 at one end is threaded into the counterbore 118 at the other end of the valve body and an O-ring 132 is disposed in a recess in such counterbore surrounding the threaded end portion of the bonnet to seal between the bonnet and the body to prevent leakage therebetween.

The bonnet has an elongate cylindrical bore 135 for receiving the inner end of a valve closure assembly operator member which has a reduced stem portion 141 at its upper end extending outwardly through an axial opening 136 in the outer end of the bonnet. A seal bushing surrounds the reduced stern of the operator member and has its upper portion disposed in a reduced counterbore 137 formed in the upper end of the bore of the bonnet. An O-ring 138 disposed in an internal annular recess 139 in the upper portion of the bushing seals between the bushing and the bonnet. The bushing is provided with an enlarged skirt 147 which receives a sealing assembly of V-packing 148 or the like therein for sealing between the bushing and the reduced stem portion 141 of the operator member to prevent leakage of fluid pressure therepast from within the bonnet and valve body. An external annular upwardly facing shoulder 150 is formed on the operator member M0 between the reduced stem portion and the depending operating sleeve or skirt portion 151, and the lower portion of the sleeve portion is enlarged in external diameter to provide sufficient strength for the internal operating threads 153 formed in the lower portion of the bore of said skirt or sleeve 151. The operating threads 153 mate with external operating threads 104 formed on a cylindrical tubular extension 105 on the outer end of the primary closure member or gate 101, so that rotation of the stem and operator member 140 actuates the threads of the sleeve and the gate extension 105 to move the gate or primary closure member longitudinally of the body between open and closed positions. An anti-friction bearing 155 is provided in the bore 135 of the bonnet between shoulder 150 on the operator member and an internal downwardly facing shoulder 136 in the outer end of the bore of the bonnet.

A cylindrical tubular guide member 100 having its lower end bifurcated to form legs 161a and 161k on op posite sides thereof is disposed in the tubular bore of the gate extension 105 and the lower bifurcated end portions 1151a and 16112 of the guide engage the outer face 124 of an annular boss 125 formed in the counter bored end opening 120 in the valve body. The guide member is held in such abutting engagement with said body boss 125 by means of a tubular cylindrical spacer member bushing 164 which abuts the closed outer end 152 of the operator sleeve or skirt 151. This closed outer end of the skirt therefore holds the spacer member in position for the inner end of its inwardly extending skirt to engage over the reduced outer end portion of the guide member and an anti'friction bearing 158 is disposed in the enlarged bore of the skirt of the spacer member and engages the upper outer end of the guide member 160 and the shoulder 165 at the outer end of the enlarged bore of the spacer member skirt, whereby the spacer member and bearing press against the end of the guide member to firmly and securely hold the same in engagement with the surface of the boss in the body and against longitudinal movement in the bonnet, and said spacer member is free to rotate with respect to the guide member during rotation of the operator member 140, if need be.

The primary closure member 101 is formed with a longitudinally extending transverse opening 106 in the outer portion of the rectangular gate portion thereof and is movable from a position in which the transverse opening is out of communication with the flow passage 113 in the body to the position shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, in which said transverse opening is in flow com munication with the flow passage 113. The secondary closure member or tongue has a substantially rectangular inner closure portion 171 and is slidable in said opening 106 in the primary closure member between an open position, as shown in FlG. 9, and a closed position in which the inner end 172; of said rectangular portion engages the inner end 106a of the opening 106 in the primary closure member to close the opening in the same manner as in the form illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. The outer portion 173 of the secondary closure member is shown to be substantially cylindrical in form, as clearly seen in FlG. 12, and is provided with a transverse opening or aperture 1'74 for receiving a latch pin which is slidable in said transverse opening. The extreme outer end portion of said cylindrical section 173 of the secondary closure member is slightly enlarged to provide an annular flanged guide or bearing 173a which is slidable in the guide bore 166 of the tubular guide member 160, the intermediate reduced portion of the cylindrical portion 173 of the secondary closure member providing a relief to prevent accumulation of foreign matter between the secondary closure member and the guide member so that the same may move freely with respect to each other during operation of the valve. An upwardly opening counterbore 167 is formed in the secondary closure member to lighten its weight and to further provide for preventing accumulations of foreign matter in the transverse opening 174 in which the latch pin slides.

The latch pin 175 extends radially outwardly from a the secondary closure member and its end projects into the elongate longitudinally disposed slot 163 formed in the tubular guide member 160 and slides against the inner cam locking wall 1015 of the tubular extension 105 of the gate member tohold the opposite end of the pin engaged in a locking recess 10% formed in the bore wall 166 of the guide member 100. The recess 160 has a cam shoulder or surface 160 formed therein for coating with a beveled camming surface 176 on the adjacent end of the latch pin.

The secondary valve closure member is therefore held against movement from the open position shown in FIG. 9 by the engagement of the end of the latch pin in the locking recess 168 until the primary closure member has moved outwardly with respect to the body a sufficient distance to align the locking recess 108 in the wall of the inner portion of the bore 106 of the tubular extension of said primary closure member with the adjacent projecting end of the lock pin 175. At this time, the inner end 106a of the opening 106 in the primary closure member is in abutting engagement with the inner end 172 of the secondary closure member to close the opening or aperture in such valve closure means or assembly for movement past the seal rings 116 in the manner described in connection with the valve schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. The camming shoulder 169 of the locking recess 168 in the guide member engages the bevel 176 on the adjacent end of the lock pin to cam the pin longitudinally until the projecting end of the lock pin enters the locking recess 108 in the bore of the primary closure member to latch-the secondary closure member to the primary closure member for simultaneous movement of the juncture line of their abutting portions past the seal means to dispose the inner imperforate closure portion 102 of the primary closure member in sealing engagement with the O-rings 1 16 to close the flow passage 113 through the valve body. The latch pin is held in engagement in the locking recess 108 by the engagement of its opposite end with the bore wall 166 of the guide member 160.

Fluid pressure is prevented from escaping outwardly between the tubular extension 105 of the primary closure member and the guide member 160 by means of an O-ring 162 disposed in an external annular recess formed in the outer end portion of the guide member inwardly of the end of the spacer bushing 164, and an external annular flange or piston 110 formed on the inner end portion of the tubular extension 105 of the primary closure member is provided with an external annular groove 1 a in which an O-ring 1 1 1 is disposed to seal between the primary closure member and the bore 135 of the bonnet to prevent fluid leakage therepast.

Vent openings 154 may be provided in the wall of the operator skirt 151 to permit free movement of the tubular threaded extension of the primary closure member into the bore of the skirt as the operator member 140 is rotated to move the valve closure assembly between open and closed positions in the valve body.

The movement of the valve closure means or assembly comprising the primary closure member and secondary closure member from the closed position back to an open position is accomplished by opposite rotation of the operator member 140 to move the primary closure member and secondary closure member inwardly of the bonnet and body with respect to the guide member 160 until the latch pin 175 is positioned in alignment with the locking recess 168 in the bore of the guide member and the camming action of the camming surface 109 against the beveled cam surface 177 at the adjacent projecting end of the pin moves the latch pin longitudinally toward the recess 168 to engage the end of the pin in such recess 168 as shown in FIG. 9. The primary closure member 101 may then move further inwardly in the body with respect to the secondary closure member to the open position shown in FIG. 9.

The juncture line of the abutting inner end 172 of the secondary closure member and inner end 106a of the opening 106 in the primary closure member moves past the O-ring sealing member 116 prior to the movement of the latch pin into the locking recess 168 and the subsequent further movement of the primary closure member inwardly of the body with respect to the secondary closure member to the open position. This simultaneous movement of the primary closure member and secondary closure member with the inner end 172 of the closure member in engagement with the inner end 1060 of the opening in the primary closure so that the juncture line of such members moves past the engaging surfaces of O-rings 1 l6 prevents damage to the O-rings by any fluid pressure dfferential acting across the 0- rings during such movement and so prevents displacement of the O-rings 116 from the annular grooves 115, and thus maintains the effectiveness of the seal rings in the manner already described.

All the advanages of the forms previously described are present in the form of the valve just described. The operating mechanism which has been disclosed differs from that previously described and there is a slightly different construction of the primary and secondary closure members and locking means, but otherwise the valve functions in the same manner as those already described.

A further modification .of the sliding gate type valve structure of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 through 17, inclusive, wherein the valve 200 has a substantially cylindrically shaped body 201 provided at its opposite ends with threaded counterbores 202 and 203, respectively, and having a substantially semi-cylindrical longitudinal medial bore 204 communicating with said counterbores, with the planar portion of said elongate semi-cylindrical bore disposed in substantial alignment with the axis of the counterbores at the opposite ends of the body. The medial bore, intennediate the counterbores, is formed with the planar seating or sealing surface 205 disposed substantially diametrically of the body. An inlet port or opening 207 is formed in a boss 208 intermediate the ends and medially of the semicylindrical medial bore 204 of the housing and is provided with threads for receiving an inlet conduit or pipe 209 whereby fluids may be conducted into the medial bore 204 of the body. A pair of longitudinally spaced outlet openings or ports 210 and 211 are provided in the diametrically opposed portion of the housing from the inlet and extend perpendicular to the planar seating or sealing surface 205 and are spaced longitudinally from each other. The outlet ports are provided with internal threads by means of which outlet conduit or pipes 212 and 213, respectively, may be connected thereto for receiving fluids from the medial bore of the housing through the outlet openings therein. The inlet opening 207,the semicylindrical medial bore 204 and the outlet openings 210 and 211 provide passages for the flow of fluids through the housing.

Closure caps 215 and 216 have reduced screw threaded ends 215a and 216a which are threaded into the threaded counterbores 202 and 203, respectively, of the housing for closing the ends of the bore of the housing. Sealing rings 217 and 218 are disposed in annular recesses formed in the outer portion of each of the counterbores of the housing and adjacent the shoulder formed on the closure member by the reduced threaded portion thereof to seal off fluid flow outwardly through the threaded portions. An operating fluid inlet port 220 is formed in the closure 215 near the outer closed end of the bore of said closure cap and a pressure fluid conduit or pipe 221 is threaded into said opening for conducting operating fluid under pressure into the bore of said closure cap for operating the valve in the manner which will be hereinafter described more fully. A similar operating fluid inlet port 222 is formed near the outer closed end of the closure cap 216 and communicates with the bore thereof, and a pressure fluid conduit or pipe 223 is threaded into said opening for conducting operating fluid pressure into the bore of the cap for acting on the valve in opposition to the pressure fluid in the cap 215 control opening and closing of the valve as will be more fully described.

For controlling flow through the flow passages in the valve body, a valve closure assembly 230 is movably disposed in the medial bore of the body and in the opposed counterbores, and is confined between the closure caps 215 and 216. The closure assembly is illustrated in exploded isometric form in FIG. 17, and includes an elongate semi-cylindrical primary closure member 231 having a planarsubstantially diametrical seating and sealing surface 232 formed thereon intermediate its ends and movable with respect to the outlet openings in the valve body for closing the same. The planar portion of the closure member is cut away at each longitudinal end of said primary closure member to provide elongate substantially rectangular flow outlet openings 234 and 235 at each such end of said primary closure member, and a pair of longitudinally spaced rectangular inlet openings 236 and 237 are formed in the semicylindrical portion of the primary closure member, each communicating with one of the outlet openings to provide a pair of flow passages through said primary closure member. A semicircular reinforcing rib 240 is thus formed in the semicylindrical portion of the primary closure member between the inlet openings 236 and 237, as is clearly shown in FIG. 13, and this rib strengthens the primary closure member and separates the flow passages.

An O-ring is disposed in a suitable annular groove or recess surrounding the outlet opening 210, and a similar O-ring 242 is disposed in an annular groove or recess surrounding the outlet opening 211, and the central planar closure portion 232 of the primary closure member 231 cooperates with a selected one of the rings to close the corresponding outlet port according to the location of the primary closure member relative to the valve body. Thus, when the primary closure member is in the position shown in FIG. 13, the outlet port 211 is closed off against flow from the inlet port 207. When the primary closure member is moved longitudinally in the valve body to position the planar closure surface portion 232 thereof in alignment with the outlet opening 210, the O-ring 241 engages said planar closure surface and closes the outlet opening 210 against flow from the inlet opening 207 through such outlet opening 210. Since pressure acting on the primary closure member 231 biases the closure member toward the sealing rings or O-rings, it is obvious that the primary closure member need not have a close fit in the body of the valve, but may slide loosely therein so as to prevent binding or sticking.

For actuating the primary closure member, a tubular extension piston 250 is detachably connected to the ad jacent end of the closure member nearest the outlet passage 210, and a similar oppositely directed piston extension 251 is detachably connected to the opposite end of said primary closure member. For connecting the pistons to the primary closure member, the opposite open bore ends of the primary closure member are provided with an enlarged bore 252 and an internal annular arcuate recess 253 providing an inwardly projecting arcuate flange 254 at each end. The inner end portion of each operating piston is provided with an external annular sealing piston flange 256 having an external annular groove 257 therein for receiving an O-ring sealing member 258 for sealing between said piston flange and the bore wall of the closure cap in which the piston is slidable. Inwardly of the piston flange, each operating piston is provided with an external annular operating flange 260 shaped to engage in the internal arcuate groove 253 in the adjacent end of the primary closure member by sliding laterally thereinto. Within the inner portion of the bore 261 of each of the operating pistons is an annular recess groove 262 providing a beveled shoulder 263 defining the outer limit of said groove. Such recess or groove formed in the bore of the piston coacts with the correspondingly beveled shoulder 265 formed in the bore of the primary closure member inwardly of the arcuate recess 253 in the bore of the closure member to provide an arcuate locking recess 264 between the beveled shoulders in the piston and in the bore of the primary closure member.

A guide and spacer member 270 is confined between the closed end of the closure cap and the outwardly facing shoulder 271 at the opposite ends of the planar seating and sealing surface section 205 of the medial bore of the housing, and the outer cylindrical portion 276 of such guide and spacer member is slidable in the reduced bore 261a at the outer end of the adjacent operating piston. An internal annular flange 265 is formed in the outer portion of the bore 261 of the operating piston by the reduced bore 261a and has an internal annular recess 266 therein for receiving an O-ring or sealing member 267 for sealing between the piston and the exterior cylindrical surface 276 of the guide and spacer 270. The inner end portion of the guide and spacer member 270 is cut away substantially diametrically to provide a planar guide surface 272 corresponding in position and substantially co-planar with the planar seating and sealing surface 205 in the body. A secondary closure member 280 is slidably disposed in the guide and spacer member 270 and within the bore 261 of the piston and in the elongate substantially rectangular outlet opening at each end of the primary closure member. One secondary closure member 280 is slidably disposed in the outlet opening 234 in the primary closure member 231 and another secondary closure member 283 is slidably disposed in the outlet opening 235 in said primary closure member for coacting with the primary closure member to close the corresponding outlet openings to permit movement of the juncture line between the abutting portions of the secondary closure member and primary closure member past the engaging surfaces of the O-rings or sealing members 241 and 242, respectively, without damaging the same as a result of the pressure differential existing across the seal rings during such movement. Each secondary closure member is in the form of a substantially cylindrical tubular body portion 285 having a closed end 286. With the longitudinal rectangular cutaway portion 287 which provides a planar closure surface 288 disposed in longitudinal alignment with the planar closure surface 232 of the primary closure member and lying in the same plane as such closure surface, the outer arcuate cylindrical surface portion 285 of the secondary closure member spaced from the planar closure surface 288 is cut away longitudinally outwardly along the cylindrical body from the end closure 286, and the end of such upstanding portion 290 is adapted to engage the outwardly facing shoulder 271 at the adjacent end of the planar seating and sealing surface 205 of the body to limit movement of the secondary closure member inwardly in the bore of the body with respect to the outlet openings therein, so that the primary closure member may move longitudinally away from the adjacent secondary closure member to open the outlet opening for flow therethrough.

The cylindrical body portion of the secondary closure member is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending openings 292 in each of which a latching member or locking ball 293 is movably disposed for locking the secondary closure member to the primary closure member and for holding the secondary closure member against movement with respect to the guide and spacer member as will be hereinafter explained.

When the primary closure member is in a position in which the outlet opening therethrough is in open relationship to the outlet opening in the body, as the outlet opening 234 is shown in relation to the outlet opening 210 in the body in FIG. 13, the latching balls 293 are disposed to engage the beveled annular shoulder 275 formed between the reduced inner portion of the guide and spacer member 270 and the outer cylindrical portion 276 of the guide and spacer member. Thus, the secondary closure member 280 is held against movement away from the position shown with relation to the outlet opening 210 in the body until the primary closure member has moved upwardly sufficiently to dispose the annular shoulder locking of the arcuate recess 264 formed in the closure member and the operating piston 250 in alignment with the locking balls 293 and until the inner end 234a of the outlet opening 234 engages the inner closed end 286 of the secondary closure member 280, at which time the outlet passage 234 in such primary closure member is closed by such abutting engagement of the secondary closure member and primary closure member. Further movement of the primary closure member cams the latching balls 293 outwardly, along the camming surface 275 into engagement with the annular shoulder in the arcuate locking recess 264 and locks the secondary closure member to the primary closure member by virtue of the locking balls being held in engagement with said annular locking shoulder by the external cylincrical surface 276 of the guide and spacer member. The locking balls, locking recess and secondary closure member are then in the position shown in FIG. 13 with respect to the outlet opening 2350f the primary closure member. The juncture line between the abutting surfaces of the secondary closure member and the primary closure member moves past the engaging surfaces of the O-rings 241 while in close abutting engagement to prevent deformation ,destruction and damage to the O-rings by the fluid pressure differential acting thereacross. The

secondary closure members 280 and 283 at each end of the primary closure member function in the same identical manner, but move in opposite directions and effect the opposite opening or closing movement with respect to each other, so that one opens while the other closes during movement of the closure assembly from one position to the other.

For actuating the closure assembly, operating fluid pressure is introduced through the conduit 221 into the bore 215!) of the cap 215 to act on the operating piston 250 to move the piston inwardly toward the bore of the housing or body of the valve to the position shown in FIG. 13. Conversely, operating fluid pressure introduced through the conduit 223 into the bore 216b of the closure cap 216 forces the operating piston 283 therein to move the primary closure member and the secondary closure members associated therewith longitudinally of the valve housing or body from the position in which the closure surface 232 closes the outlet port 211 to the position in which said closure surface 232 is disposed to close the outlet opening 210, while the operating piston in the cap 215 is moved toward the operating fluid inlet 220 until the end of the operating piston 280 engages the closed end of the cap to limit further movement of the piston and the primary closure member in the valve body.

Obviously, the operating fluid pressures may be so controlled that the planar closure surface 232 of the primary closure member is disposed in a desired position partly opening and partly closing each of the outlet openings 210 and 211, and so proportion flow of fluids from the inlet opening 207 through the outlet openings 210 and 211 in any desired manner. Also, the primary closure member may be moved to a position to close either of said outlet openings as desired. It will thus be seen that this form of the valve is particularly adapted to use for process control, in fluidic computers, or the like where there is a need for throttling flow, proportioning flow, or otherwise controlling flow, and wherein a positive closure or shut-off of flow in necessary, with no leaks, at either high or low operating pressures, without deteriorating of effectiveness of the seal acting against the valve closure.

It will therefore be seen that in all forms of the sliding gate type valve heretofore described, the sliding primary closure member is movable between open and closed positions with respect to the flow passage in the valve body, and that the primary and secondary closure members are movable with respect to each other to a position in which the secondary closure member abuts the primary closure member to close the flow aperture or opening therethrough before the line of juncture of the abutting portions of the primary closure member and secondary closure member passes across the engaging surfaces the O-rings or other soft seal members sealing between the primary closure member and the body of the valve in moving between open andclosed positions, and so prevent deterioration of the effectiveness of the seal.

The invention is equally adapted to rotatable plug valves, as well as to slidable gate type valves of the character just described. In FIGS. 18 through 22, a spherical rotatable plug valve 300 is shown having a rotatable spherical primary closure member 301 rotatable in the bore 302 communicating of a bell-shaped valve body 303 having an inlet passage 304 communicating with the bore 302 in the body. The ball closure 301 is rotatably confined in the bore 302 in the body 303 by means of a tubular closure and retaining mem her 310 provided with external screw threads 311 and threaded into a threaded counterbore 307 inthe open end or mouth of the bell-shaped body 303. The tubular closure and retaining member 310 coacts with the bellshaped housing 303 to retain the primary ball closure therein for rotation about an axis transverse to a dimetrical flow passage 315 formed in said closure ball. A flat 316 having a keyway 317 formed therein is provided in the outer surface of the ball coaxially with the axis of rotation of the ball, and an operating stem 320 extends through an aperture 321 in the bell housing or body 303 of the valve and has an enlarged flanged inner end 322 with a key 323 engaging in the keyway in the flat on the valve ball closure, whereby rotation of the stem about its axis rotates the ball in the body about the axis transversely of the flow passage therethrough. An O-ring 325 is disposed in an internal annular recess 326 in the housing surrounding the stem 320 to seal therebetween to prevent fluid leakage therepast. In this schematic illustration, an O-ring or soft seal member 330 is disposed in an internal annular recess 331 formed in the concave seating surface 335 at the inner end of the outlet passage or opening of the tubular closure and retaining member 310. It will be seen that the ball closure 301 may thus be rotated between the open position shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 and the closed position shown in FIG. 22 wherein the imperforate portion of the spherical closure member is disposed in sealing engagement with the O-ring 330 to prevent flow from the inlet opening 304 in the housing or bell-shaped body 303 to the outlet opening 312 in the retainer and closure member 310, the O-ring sealing with the imperforate portion of such spherical closure member to prevent such fluid flow.

For protecting the soft seal or O-ring sealing between the valve body and the closure member, during movement of the ball closure member between open and closed positions, an elongate circumferentially extending arcuate flat bottomed groove or recess 340 is formed in the exterior or pheriphery of the spherical closure member 301 extending from one end of the transverse flow passage 315 in such closure member or ball to the opposite end of such flow passage, as clearly shown in FIGS. 18 and 20 through 22. As shown in FIG. 19, the lateral edge portions of said recess or groove are inclined outwardly at 341 and 342 with respect to the arcuate cylindrical or flat bottom 343 of said groove. An arcuate secondary closure, tongue member or leaf member 345, having a spherical external configuration 346 and an arcuate substantially cylindrical inner configuration surface 347, is slidable in the groove 340 between a position in which it closes the transverse flow passage 315 as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, to a position'in which the flow passage is open as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. The outer surface 346 of the secondary closure member is coextensive in configuration with the spherical outer surface of the primary closure member, while the inner cylindrical surface 347 of r the secondary closure member corresponds with and is complementary to the flat cylindrical surface 343 of the groove. The outer edge portions 348 of the secondary closure member are beveled to correspond to the inclined surfaces 341 and 342 of thr recess, while the opposite end portions 345a and 345b of said closure member are semi-circular to conform to the substantially semi-circular end portions 344a and 344b, respectively, of the recess surrounding the ends of the flow passage 315 through the ball closure member. Thus, the beveled outer edge portions and end portions of the secondary closure member will engage the inclined surfaces 341, 342 and 344b of the recess 340 in the ball closure member when said secondary closure member is moved to the end of groove therein overlapping the end of the flow passage therethrough. It will be seen that when the secondary closure member is in the position in which the semi-circular end 345b thereof abuts the arcuate semi-circular inclined end portion 344b of the groove, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the secondary closure member abuts the adjacent inclined portions of the groove throughout the area of the groove in the ball closure member at such end of the flow passage through the ball, and that such abutting surfaces may be moved past the engaging surfaces of the O-ring or soft seal without damaging such seal member as a result of fluid pressure differential thereacross.

For locking the secondary closure member in the position in which the flow passage through the ball primary closure member 301 is open, as shown in FIG. 18, a locking or latching pin 360 is slidable in a radial opening 361 in the secondary closure member near the arcuate end 3450 thereof. The inner end of the latching pin has a bevel 362 and such inner end rides along the flat bottom 343 of the recess 340 and holds the opposite outer end of the pin in projecting position engaged in a locking or latching recess 370 formed in the bore 302 of the bell shaped body 303 of the valve. The locking recess has a bevel or inclined surface 371 which is disposed to coact with the bevel 363 of the outer end of the pin for camming the pin inwardly when the ball closure member has been rotated sufficiently to move a latching recess 380 formed in such closure member into alignment with the inner end of the latching pin, at which time the end surface 344b of the groove 340 abuts the end surface 345b of the secondary closure member. The camming force of the beveled end of the pin and the beveled shoulder 371 in the recess 370 forces the pin longitudinally inwardly of the aperture 361 in the secondary closure member and into the latching recess 380 in the ball closure member to lock the primary andsecondary closure members together for conjoint movement. Further movement of the ball closure member toward open position thus moves the secondary closure member therewith to move juncture line of the abutting end surfaces 344b of the groove in the ball and 345b at the end of the secondary closure member past the inner engaging surfaces of the O-ring or seal member 330. The primary and secondary closure members thus move together from the position shown in FIG. 21, wherein the inner end of the pin 360 is held engaged in the recess 380 in the ball closure member by the engagement of its outer end with the wall of the bore 302 of the body for latching the secondary closure member to the ball primary closure member, to the position shown in FIG. 22 wherein the ball closure member 301 has been turned to fully closed position to move the juncture line of the abutting surfaces of the primary closure member and secondary closure member past the soft O-ring seal member and the imperforate portion of the ball primary closure member into full engagement with seal ring 330.

Similarly, turning the ball closure member in the opposite direction, counter clock wise in FIG. 22, will move the secondary closure member 345 with the ball closure member because of the engagement of the outer end of the pin 360 with the inner wall of'the bore 302 of the body 303 of the valve, which holds the inner end of the pin engaged in the recess 380 in the ball closure member until the ball closure member and secondary closure member have been rotated to move the abutting portions thereof past the O-ring soft seal 330 to the position shown in FIG. 21, wherein the lock pin is disposed in alignment with the locking recess 370 in the body and the beveled inner end of the pin is engaged by the beveled shoulder or surface 381 of the locking recess 380 in the ball member to move it outwardly into the locking recess 370 in the housing. The pin is then held engaged in the body locking recess 370 by engagement of the inner end of the pin with the flat bottom 343 of the recess 340 in the ball primary closure member as said ball further rotated toward open position, and so prevents further movement of the secondary closure member and permits the ball primary closure member to be moved to the fully open position shown in FIG. 18.

It will therefore be seen that all advantages of the forms of the invention previously described are present in this form, wherein a ball type rotary plug closure member has the seal protecting structure of the invention incorporated therein.

FIG. 23 shows a rotary plug valve closure member 400 having a cylindrical rotary plug form of primary closure member and having a secondary closure member or tongue 402 slidable in a recess 403 formed therein for movement between positions opening and closing the transverse flow passage 405 through the rotary plug in the same manner as the form just described. Other than having a cylindrical external configuration rather than a spherical shape, this valve is constructed and functions in identically the same manner as the form of the rotary plug valve just described.

A further modified form of rotary plug valve is shown in FIG. 24, wherein a tapered plug primary closure member 410 is shown, having a slidable secondary closure member or tongue 412 slidable in a groove 413 formed in the exterior surface of the tapered plug body or closure member 410 for closing the transverse flow passage 415 therethrough. Other than having a tapered substantially cylindrical conical external configuration, the rotary plug closure member of this form of the device is also identical with the functions in identically the same manner as the forms of rotary plug members previously described.

It will therefore be seen that rotary plug valves of spherical, cylindrical, or tapered plug type are readily adaptable for incorporation of a secondary closure member therein for use in cooperation with the primary closure member to prevent damage to the soft seals or O-rings sealing between the plug closure member and the body of the valve.

FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate a valve 500 which is a further modification of the rotary plug valve closure member. In the valve 500, a rotary plug closure member $01 is rotatable in the bore 502 of the valve body 503 for closing the flow passages 504 and 505 therethrough. An O-ring soft seal member 506 is disposed in an internal annular recess 507 surrounding the flow passage 504 in the valve body, and an O-ring soft seal member 508 is disposed in an internal annular recess 509 surrounding the flow passage 505 in the body of the valve. The primary closure member 501 has a transverse flow passage 510 therethrough which is adapted to be moved from a position in which it is in flow communication with the flow openings 504 and 505 in the body, as shown in FIG. 25, to a position in which imperforate peripheral portions of the rotary closure member are disposed in sealing engagement with the O-rings 506 and 508 to close off all flow in either direction through the valve, as shown in FIG. 26. A first secondary closure member or means 520 is shown in a groove 515 at one end 510a of the flow passage 510 in the closure member for closing that end of the passage as the abutting portions of the secondary closure member and primary closure member move past the O-ring soft seal 508 from the open position to the closed position and from the closed position to the open position.

A latching pin 52] is slidable longitudinally in a radial opening 522 in the secondary closure member and its inner end is engageable in a locking recess 523 formed in the rotatable closure member 501, as shown in FIG. 26, for locking the secondary closure member to the primary closure member for conjoint movement of said members to move the line of juncture or the abutting portions thereof past the O-ring 508. The lock or latching pin is held in the locking recess by the interior concave bore 502 of the body 503 until the pin moves into alignment with the locking recess 525 in the bore of the body, whereupon the pin iscammed outwardly into'such body locking recess 525 by the camming action of the beveled inner end 526 of the latching pin with the cam surface 524 of the locking recess 523 in the closure member. The outer end of the latching pin is thus moved into the locking recess 525 in the body, as shown in FIG. 25, to prevent further movement of the secondary closure member as the rotary primary closure member is moved to the open position shown in FIG. 25. A second secondary closure member or means 540 is provided in a groove 530 on the exterior of the closure member adjacent the opposite end 510b of the flow passage 510 through the valve as the valve is mounted with respect to the flow opening 505 in the body. The construction and operation of the second secondary closure member 540, the primary closure member 501, the latching pin 541, and the locking recesses 543 and 545 are identical with those of the first secondary closure member 520 and function to lock the second secondary closure member 540 to the primary closure member for closing the adjacent end 5l0b of the bore 510 in the primary closure member while the line of juncture of the abutting portions of the primary closure member and secondary closure member are moved past the engaging surface of the seal member 506 from the closed position shown in FIG. 26 to the open position shown in FIG. 25. Similarly, the latch pin 541 will lock the secondary closure member to the body 503, in the position shown in FIG. 25, against movement until the primary closure member has been moved to move the locking recess 543 therein into alignment with the inner end of the locking pin 541 whereupon the inner end of the pin is cammed longitudinally inwardly into locking engagement in said recess to lock the secondary closure member and primary closure member together for conjoint movement of the abutting end portions thereof closing the bore 510 at that end of said bore past the soft O-ring seal 506. 

1. The method of operating a valve having a body with a flow passage therethrough with seal means surrounding said flow passage and having a valve closure member with an aperture therethrough movable into and out of flow communication with the flow passage through the valve body to open and close said flow passage, comprising: closing said aperture of said valve closure member with a secondary closure by relative movement between said secondary closure and said valve closure member; forming by said secondary closure member a substantially continuous imperforate supporting surface in said aperture conforming in shape to the shape of the exterior surface of the valve closure member; positively holding said secondary closure and said valve closure member in said position closing said aperture of said valve closure member for maintaining said aperture closed by said secondary closure member; moving said valve closure member and said secondary closure while held in said closed position to move said closed aperture past said seal means into and out of flow communication with the flow passage in the body; maintaining said seal means in sealing contact with the body and the valve closure member and the supporting surface formed by said secondary closure as said closed aperture of said valve closure member is moved past said seal means; and supporting said seal means by said supporting surface formed by said secondary closure to prevent extrusion and damage to said seal means during such movement.
 2. The method of claim 1 including the further step of: releasing said secondary closure from said position in which it is held positively closing said aperture of said valve closure member; and opening the aperture through said valve closure member by relative movement between said secondary closure and said valve closure member to open said flow passage through said valve body after said closed aperture has been moved past said seal means into position for flow communication with said flow passage.
 3. The method of operating a valve having a body with a flow passage therethrough with seal means surrounding said flow passage and having a valve closure member with an aperture therethrough movable into and out of registry with the flow passage through the valve body in sealing engagement with said seal means to open and close said flow passage, comprising: closing said aperture of said closure member with a secondary closure movable relative to said valve closure member to provide a smooth continuous substantially imperforate surface engaging said seal means in said valve body; moving said closure member and said secondary closure simultaneously in said closed position in said valve body past said seal means while in simultaneous engagement with said seal means; and securiNg said valve closure member and said secondary closure in position maintaining said aperture closed by said secondary closure during movement of said closed aperture past said seal means between flow passage opening and closing positions in said body.
 4. The method of claim 3 including the further step of: maintaining said valve closure member and said secondary closure in sealing engagement with said seal means during movements of said aperture past said seal means. 